National Republican., 1887-04-08
The Frog That Wanted to be An Ok.

Esop tells us Of frog that wanted to be
an OK, and the result Of the attempt was
"bursted frog" The action OF the two
us very forcibly of that ambitious frog. A
correspondent says:
EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,: Beneath the
surface there is a dishonorable, designing pur.
pose on the part of the Alabama militia COM
panies in withdrawing from the National
Drill. Their actions subsequent to their with
drawal prove this fact
Liberal minded men OF the north are invest
ing their wealth and energy in the industries
Of Alabama and the SOUTH and the result Is an
unheard of business activity for that section.
The white people Of Montgomery and other
towns have been booming the intended colored
national fair, hoping thereby to attract still
more largely the attention of business men to
the possibilities Of that section.
Being aware that militia companies in the
south have been training all winter and max
ing preparations for this drill, they apparently
have put their heads together in Montgomery
and raised the cry of "nigger," hoping thereby
TO induce other southern companies to cancel
their engagements here. Having accomplished
this in their minds eye. they open their arms
feast all by ourselves" Their intention is to
boom Alabama at the cost of honor and fair
dealing. To attract all southern companies to
Montgomery for an interstate drill Is their
purpose, and they have seized upon the ''nig-
ger" question as pretext. knowing that the
word 'nigger" Is sufficient to unite any and
all their factions, no matter how widely divided
on any question.
VIII the time never come when v<swho
abuse the negro for his lack of enterprise will
give him an opportunity to show US what he
can do by sweeping away the barriers we have
erected across his path? SoUrHERNER.
Every word written by "Southerner" Is
true. The frog was tryIag to be an OK, but
how 1t bursted is shown by the dispatches
from Montgomery yesterday morning, tell.
ing OF meeting OF the business men OF
Montgomery, OF which It was determined
that the Montgomery drill should not be
held until June, 1888, The frog bursted.
But the dishonest intention was none the
less apparent The Montgomery compa.
nies thought that the cry Of "nigger' would
cause all the southern companies to with
draw, but, to their great astonishment, the
word was no longer "shIbboleth" to unite
the people OF the south upon a suicidal
policy.
With the facts all known the reasons
which induced the action Of these companies
is still more apparent For II is fact
that the very company which inaugurated
this movement, on the 4th OF March, 1885,
marched down Pennsylvania avenue In
line with the very "nlgger" companies that
are entered for the National Drill.
We have not heard that any OF the corner
buildings OF the avenue fell upon these
Montgomery "bloods" and crushed them
because of their action, or that any of them
were attacked with the collie, though they
seem to be suffering from serious accumu-
lation Of wind Just now, which they are
venting to the great disgust OF every one
within reach OF them.
The Montgomery frog bursted when II
found that none of the southern companies
would follow its lead, and that the sensible
people Of the south were no longer to be